Machine for dressing fish.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

I}. A. SMITH. A MACHINE FOR DRESSING FISH.

APPLIOATION FILED APR-9. 1903.

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No. 796,538. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. E. A SMITH.

MACHINE FOR DRESSING FISH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 7;: 50

IWITLNESSES: 1 J INVENTOR.

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1 PATBNTED AUG. 8, 1905. E. A. SMITH. I MACHINE FORDRESSING PISH.

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APPLICATION FILED APR.9.1903.

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I No. 796,538. PATBNTED AUG. 8, 1905;

E. A. SMITH. MACHINE FOR DRESSING FISH.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1903.

4 SHEETS -SHEET 4 "(DRUM u. cmmm cm. Mmo-umoammms. wlsmum'un. I:v c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR DRESSING F-lSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatenterl Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed April 9. 1903. Serial lilo. 151,914.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND AUGUSTINE SMITH, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, who have declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Dressing Fish, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for dressing fish, and has special reference to an apparatus of this class which is especially adapted to sever the fins from, viscerate, and clean fish-bodies.

Among numerous objects attained by this invention and readily understood from the following specification and accompanying drawings, included as a part thereof, is the production of a simplified and efiicient fishdressing machine of great capacity and embodying throughout its several parts essential features of adaptability and utility which facilitates the dressing of fish bodies, reduces the labor attendant such operations, and insuresa thorough cleaning of the body.

The above mentioned and other objects equally as desirable are attained by the constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as disclosed on the drawings, set.

forth in this specification, and succinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing like reference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved fish-dressing machine shown with portions of the hangers for the upper mechanisms and portions of the base parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section of the wash-trough and scraper, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4 and looking as the arrows indicate. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a portion of the scraper. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section of the scraper on large scale. Fig. 1 is a side view of the carrier on small scale and shows the trough in relative position and in vertical longitudinal section and the scraper and spraying device in position. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing a portion of the carrier with the body gripping and clamping members thereon and the guide, fin-cutter, splitter, spreader, and wiper in relative positions. Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section of the wiper, taken on line 5 of F 1g. 5 and viewed as the arrows fly. Fig. 5

is a perspective view of the upper end of the wiper. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a portion of the carrier, on large scale, and the body gripping and clamping members thereon and a portion of the cam-tracks adapted to open same. Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section of the head of one stem of the gripping members and shows the rotatable jaw mounted thei eon. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the cutter adapted to sever the'fins from the fish-body and shows the driving mechanism therefor. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section of the [in-severing device shown in Fig. 8 looking as the arrow indicates. Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of said cutter; head looking from the right of Fig. 8 and shown with the cutter-blades and the driving mechanism removed. Fig. 11 is a view indiametrical section of the cutter-blades shown slightly separated. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of said blades, separated as in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of one of the angle-boxes employed in the mechanisms adapted to drive the blades of the fin-cutter and body-splitter. Fig. 14 is a view in plan of the spreader adapted to open the fish-body after it has been split. Fig. 15 shows the spreader in vertical longitudinal section on line 15 of Fig. 14 looking as the arrow indicates. Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation of my improved machine.

This invention includes a movably-mounted carrier, as 10, adapted to convey the fishbodies for presentation to the several dressing instrumentalities, and as now considered this carrier comprises a composite wheel-like structure, Fig. 4, of comparatively large diameter and preferably composed of a suitable hub 11, radially-disposed spokes 12, consisting of metal bars secured thereto, an annular rim 13, formed from a metal bar and secured to the 'outer ends of the spokes, and oppositely-disposed annular ties 14 and 14, composed of metal bars and secured to opposite side edges of the spokes intermediate the hub and rim at suitably-separated points to give the structure rigidity. This carrier is vertically disposed and fixedly secured on a horizontal shaft 15 by means of a key or the like, and this shaft is conveniently rotatably mounted in bearings, as 16, whichare arranged on oppositely-disposed stands 17, set at suitable separation to receive the carrier therebetween.

1n the present embodiment carrier 10 is conveniently driven through the medium of a worm-wheel, as 18, Fig. l, which is fixedly mounted on shaft 15 at one side of the machine, and a worm 19 is arranged 1n mesh with said wheel and preferably secured on a shaft 20, set at right angles to shaft 15 over the wheel and rotatably supported in suitable bearings, as 21, which are mounted on a laterallyprojecting bracket, as 22, supported from one of the stands 17, and a suitable drivepulley 23 is secured to shaft 20, by means of which power is conveniently applied to rotate the carrier in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 marked R through the medium of a belt.

Upon the carrier 10 are mounted suitable operative means for holding the fish-bodies thereon, and as now considered these attaching means include a pair of oppositely-disposed tail-gripping members, as 24, which are arranged on the carrier with the-jaws thereof just beyond the periphery of the rim 13 adja cent one of the spokes 12, Figs. 1, 5, and 6. Each of these tail-gripping members preferably includes a substantially L-shaped shank or jaw-carrier, as 26, which is pivotally mounted at the point of angle by means of a suitable transversely-disposed pin secured to the outer end of a laterallyprojecting lug, as 27, which is secured to the rim of the. carrier, and this shank is disposed with the stem portion projecting outwardly beyond the rim of the carrier and the foot portion extending inwardly transversely of the carrier beneath said rim. These shanks are each provided with a rotatable jaw, as 28, arranged at the free end of the stem to turn on a horizontal axis, so that the jaws will rotate or turn about an axis at right angles to their gripping-surface in conformity with the swinging movement of the body gripped therebetween as it moves to and from its seat on the carrier, and thereby prevent mutilation of the flesh or buckling of the body, as will be more fully set forth when the movements of the body are described. In the present embodimenteach jaw 28 comprises a disk-shaped face 29, Fig. 7, having barbs, as

30, on one side surface and an axle 31, secured on the other side surface concentric therewith and of suitable length to pass through the stem of a respective jaw shank or carrier. This axle is rotatably seated in a suitable aperture or journal, as 32, formed in the stem of the shank or jaw-carrier, and the jaw is conveniently held fromdisplaccment by means of a nut or collar, as 33, secured to the outer end of the axle. As now considered the gripping members 24 are normally yieldingly forced into gripping positions by means of a suitable spring, as 34, suitably arranged to yieldingly urge a radially-disposed stem 35, which is suitably slidably mounted on said carrier, to move inwardly, and this stem is operatively connected with said gripping members by means of a pair of links 36, one end of each of which is pivotally connected with said stem and the opposite ends pivotally connected with the free ends of .the foot portions of the shanks of said members, so that the spring 34 will serve to yieldingly press the gripping members toward each other. In the present embodiment the gripping members 24 are opened relatively to each other by means of oppositely-disposed parallel levers, as 37, which are suitably pivotally mounted on the adjacent spoke of the carrier,preferably at a point intermediate the annular ties 14 and 14, and extend across the side faces of the stem 35 under suitable antifriction bearing-blocks, as 38, preferably comprising rollers rotatably mounted on the projecting ends of a suitable axle 39, secured in the stem transversely thereof. At the free ends of these levers are arranged rotatable earn-rollers, as 40, which are mounted on the outer extremities of a suitable axle 41, disposed transverely to and secured to the levers, and these cam rollers are adapted to engage suitable oppositely-disposed stationary cam-tracks, as 42, arranged at each side of the carrier in the path of the rollers as they move with the carrier and serve to adjust the levers outwardly against action of spring 34 and hold them in advanced position by and during a predetermined movement of the carrier, so that the jaws 29 will be thereby opened to receive and release the fishbodies.

A suitable seat, as 43, adapted to receive the body to be dressed, is arranged upon the rim 13 rearwardly of the jaws 29 relatively to the direction of the travel of the carrier, and as now considered this seat comprises a section of resilient metal of considerable length.suit ably supported at each end from said rim on stud-bolts 43, which are passed through suitable apertures in the rim and are adjustably secured to said rim by locknuts, so that the studs can be moved longitudinally to adjust the seat and serve to support same free of the rim throughout the greater portion of its length, so that the seat will yieldingly support the body. Along each side edge of the center portion of this seat is arranged an upwardly and outwardly extending guard, as 44, adapted to prevent lateral displacement of the fish-body, and oppositely-disposed clamping members, as 47, are disposed at the sides of this seat and are adapted to secure the body in position during a predetermined part of a rotation of the carrier. ,Each of these clamping members includes an elongated cheek, as 48, which is secured to the outer ends of inwardly-extending arms, as 49 and 49, fixedly mounted on a rotatable bar 50, which is journaled in laterally-projecting lugs, as 51, fixed to the rim of the carrier, and at the inner end of each arm 49 is provided a laterally-projecting lug, as 52. These clamping members 47 are normally yieldingly held in clamping positions by means of a spring 34, arranged to yieldingly urge a radially-disposed stem 35, which is suitably slidably mounted on the carrier to move inwardly, and this stem is operatively connected to said members by means of a pair of links 36, which are pivotally connected by one end to the stem and at the opposite end likewise connected with one of the lugs 52. This stem is advanced against action of spring 34 by means of oppositely-disposed levers 37, pivotally mounted on the adjacent spoke 12 and resting against bearing -rollers 38, mounted on the stem, and having camrollers 40, mounted at the free ends on the outer end portions of an axle 41, which is rendered somewhat longer than axle 41 of the rollers 40, so as to carry said rollers 40 free of the cam-tracks 42, and suitable oppositelydisposed stationary cam tracks 42 are arranged in the path of movement of rollers 40 to open clamps 47 and hold them in open position during a predetermined part of each rotation of the carrier.

The heads of the fish to be dressed and the caudal fins thereof are severed from the bodies before presenting them to the machine, and the dorsal [in is conveniently severed from the body as it passed to the machine. This lat- I ter operation is conveniently accomplished by means of suitable cutters, as oppositely-disposed circular blades 53, Fig. 1, which are rotably mounted in the path of movement ofthe fish as it is passed to the machine, and as now considered these blades are arranged to cut in a suitable horizontally disposed troughshaped way 54, arranged at the left of the machine just above the center of the carrier and in line with the rim thereof, and the fish is presented tail foremost and passed to the machine with the back resting in said way, so that the dorsal fin is passed between said blades and the fish properly presented for the tail-gripping jaws to close on the tail portion of the body as they pass the inner end of said way and as determined by a proper setting of the cam-tracks 42, which are suitably arranged to cause said jaws to open before they reach said way to release the dressed body and allow them to close as they arrive opposite the end of same to take up the fish-body to be dressed. The cam-tracks 42, which serve to open the body clamps 47, are suitably arranged to cause said clamps to open before they reach the feedway 54 and to allow said clamps to close after the fish-body taken up by the jaws 29 has reached the seat 43, and these tracks are suitably supported by securing them to respective oppositely-disposed posts, as 56, arranged adjacent the feedway, and the camtracks 42 are conveniently supported by securing them against the inner side surfaces of the tracks 42.

At the inner end of the feedway 54 I preferably place a suitable vertical spring-clamp, as 57,consisting of oppositely-disposed springleaves 57, each of which is composed of resilient metal suitably bent or bowed to conform approximately to the contour of the tail portion of the fish, as viewed in cross-section, and suitably formed to cause the resiliency of the metal to yieldingly force these leaves to approach each other, so that they will clasp this tail portion when the fish is presented to the machine and serve to hold same against upward movement or displacement by frictional contact of the carrier therewith prior to the closing of the tail-gripping jaws thereupon, but will separate to allow the fish to pass to its seat on the carrier as these jaws take hold and pass upwardly, when the body of the fish will swing inwardly to its seat on the carrier without buckling or bending, as permitted by rotation of the said jaws on the shanks 26.

The body-clamps 47 are suitably disposed relatively to the seat 43 to cause the cheeks thereof to grasp the fish-body at the thick part of the back thereof, so that the abdominal wall of the body will be free for a more perfect action of the various dressing instrumentalities, while the tail-gripping jaws are adapted to grip the fish-body at the tail extremity, and thereby allow it to swing outwardly and inwardly relatively to seat 43, as permitted by rotation of said jaws and as desired to seat the body on the carrier and present it to the scraper, as will be set forth in the following.

Positioned over the carrier 10 is an operative fin-severing device 58, which is suitably mounted and arranged for vertical movement and angular adjustment and embodies a cutter 59, composed of an upper and a lower circular blade (marked, respectively, 60 and 60) and which blades are suitably mounted concentric with each other, so as to be independently rotatable, and are preferably driven in opposite directions relatively to each other by suitable driving mechanism, which will be hereinafter described and set forth. The lower blade 60 is formed with a suitable web, as 61, preferably consisting of a circular section of plate metal, and a suitable spindle, as 62, is conveniently secured to the upper side surface of this web concentric therewith. About the periphery of the web 61, at the upper side thereof, is provided a conical frustum rim or knife, as 62, which is preferably formed of plate metal and is conveniently connected at the smaller diameter to the edge of the web, so that it will flare upwardly and outwardly therefrom, and the free edge of this rim is notched to conveniently provide suitable teeth thereon, and the outer corners of these notches are conveniently beveled to bring the inner corners to a sharp cutting edge. As now considered this blade is formed from a single circular section of plate metal conveniently pressed or bent to the desired shape by bending the outer marginal portion laterally to the desired pitch or inclination to form the conical frustum rim, and in the present instance the teeth are formed at a suitspindle of the lower blade of the cutter.

able rake from the direction of rotation of the blade. The upper blade 60 is suitably made in the same form and manner as the lower blade just described,excepting thatitis formed slightly smaller in diameter, so as to fit snugly but freely within the lower blade, and the notches or teeth are beveled on the inner side surface, so that the cutting edges of the blades will lie in close proximity to each other when the cutter is assembled. In the center of the web of the upper blade an aperture is formed of suitable size to receive the spindle of the lower blade, and a tubular spindle 64 is conveniently secured to the web of the upper blade concentric with said aperture, and this tube is formed with the bore of suitable size to receive the spindle of the lower blade snugly but freely and is rendered somewhat shorter than spindle 62. This cutter is conveniently operatively mounted in a suitable head, as 65, which as now considered comprises a vertical main portion or stem 66, formed with a transversely-disposed journal-aperture midway its length, a laterally-projecting bracket 67 at one side, at the lower end, carrying a journal, as 68, in line with said aperture, and upper and lower lugs 69, projecting from the opposite side and having in the upper lug a suitable vertically-disposed journal-aperture adapted to receive the spindle of the lower blade of the cutter and a journal-aperture in the lower lug of suitablesize to receive the spindle of the upper blade. To the rearward edge of, this head is secured a bracket-plate 70, which projects at right angles to bracket 67, and to the forward edge of this plate is secured a bearing 71, which is arranged between the lugs 69 concentric with the journal-apertures therein and is formed with the bore of suitable diameter to offer a journal for the At the outer lower corner of the bracket-plate 7 O is provided a transversely-disposed pivot-aperture, as 71, Fig. 10, adapted to engage a suitable pivot mounted on a support, as 73, and a segmental slot, as 72, is formed in the plate concentric with the aperture, through which a clamping-bolt, as 74, is passed and engaged with said support to conveniently adjustably secure the head at any desired angle relatively to the perpendicular.

1n the present embodiment the support 73 comprises a vertically-movable hanger preferably including horizontally-disposed upper and lower pairs of arms, as 7 1, Figs. 1, 5, and 8, which are of equal length and are pivotally mounted at one end on respective fixed pivots or shafts 75, supported on suitable oppositelydisposed brackets, as 76, supported in any convenient manner, as by securing them to a suitable frame A, as shown in Fig. 16. To the free end of each of these arms a verticallydisposed downwardly-extending bar, as 77, is conveniently pivoted by means of trans- Versely disposed pivots or pins 78, passed through said bar and the arms, so that when the arms'swing the bar will move upwardly or downwardly and still maintain a vertical position, and the cutter-head 65 is conveniently adjustably mounted on the lower end of this bar in the manner heretofore described. In the present instance this hanger with cutter-head attached is suitably counterbalanced so that it will normally yieldingly bear downwardly at a comparatively light pressure, and the cutter be thereby allowed to rise and fall in conformity with the size and contour of the body of the fish and caused to press lightly thereupon and serve to slightly depress the same .for a more perfect action of the blades to sever the fins, as will hereinafter be more fully described. As now considered the means for counterbalancing this hanger consists of a suitable flexible line or cord 79, Fig. 1, which is attached by one end to the upper end of bar 77 and passed over suitably-mounted overhead carrier-sheaves, as 80, and a suitable weight, as 81, attached to the free end of this cord.

The in-severing cutter 59 is conveniently driven through the medium of atrain of bevelgears, Figs. 8 and 9, one gear of which, as 82, is fixedly secured to the upper end of the spindle of the lower blade above the lower lug 69 of the cutterhead, and a second gear, as 83, of this train is secured to the spindle of the lower blade beneath the upper lug 69, while a third gear SA is mounted in mesh with both the gears 82 and 83 on a suitable shaft 85, disposed in the bearing 68 and journal-aperture in the stem 66. Upon this shaft, be-

.tween the said bearing and the stem, is secured.

a beveled gear 86, and a substantially U-shaped yoke .87 is pivotally mounted on this shaft by means of suitable shaft-receiving apertures formed transversely the end portions of the stems thereof, and in the head portion of this yoke a transversely-disposed journal-aperture is formed to receive one end portion of telescoping drive-shaft 88, upon which portion Within the yoke a gear 89 is fixedly mounted in mesh with gear 86. Thus it will be seen that should power be applied to rotate telescoping shaft 88 shaft 85 will be driven through medium of gears 89 and 86, and this shaft will drive the cutter-blades in opposite directions through the medium of gears 84, 83, and 82. The telescoping shaft 88 and yoke 87 are embodied to conveniently allow the cutter-head to move vertically without interfering with the driving of the-cutter, and this shaft comprises telescoping sections, as 89 and 90,.one of which, as 90, is rendered tubular and preferably formed with arectangular bore, and the periphery of one end portion of section 89 is formed rectangular to slidably fit in said bore, so that the shaft-sections are thereby held to simultaneous rotation, but are free to slide longitudinally upon each other, and thereby allow the shaft to extend or contract in length to conform to the vertical movements or angular adjustments of the cutter-head while the said yoke swings about the shaft 85.

The telescoping shaft is conveniently driven from a driving-shaft 91, which is arranged rearwardly of the cutter-head at right angles to the telescoping shaft and rotatabl y supported by suitable hangers 92 or the like and carries a drive-pulley, as 93, by which it is conveniently driven by a belt leading from suitable driving mechanism. This driving-shaft 91 is conveniently operatively connected with the telescoping shaft by means of a pair of bevel-gears 94, and the telescoping shaft is conveniently supported at this end by means of an angle-box 95, Fig. 13, which comprises a substantially U-shaped body having a journal-aperture formed transversely in one stem adjacent the end thereof and adapted to receive the telescoping shaft and a bearing 96 on the other stem arranged at right angles to the said journal-aperture in alinement therewith and adapted to receivethe driving-shaft snugly but freely, so that said box will be free to swing about the driving-shaft in conformity with the lateral movement of the telescoping shaft as the cutter-head is raised and lowered.

Supported on the cutter-head 65 are forwardlyprojecting oppositely-disposed finguides consisting of spring-pressed fingers 65, which are pivotally mounted upon the upper surface of a circular bracket-plate 66, which is fixedly attached to the lower edge of said head concentric with the cutter, so that the upper surface will rest just above the cutting edges ofthe blades and support said guides in close proximity thereto. These guides are suitably pivotally mounted at their rear ends and are yieldingly pressed toward each other by oppositely-disposed springs 67', seated on the bracket-plate, and the forward ends of these fingers are diverged outwardly, so that they will receive therebetween the fins on the fishbody and serve to swing them to an erect position as they advance upon the blades of the cutter and support them during the severing action.

The cutter-head 65 is set upon the hanger 73 at a suitable incline or angle from the'perpendicular to cause the rim of the lower blade of the cutter to lie at a slight incline forwardly and upwardly relatively to-the line of sweep of the fish-bodies as they pass the cutter 59, so that the lower edge or corner of the rim of the lower blade thereof will act in the capacity of a shoe, serving to yieldingly depress the abdomen of the fish-body, owing to the downward bearing action of the cutter-head as the body is conveyed therepast, and thereby cause the surface of the body acted .upon to conform to the curvature of the cutting edge of the cutter and by so doing insure a closer severance of the fins relatively to the body and also raise the oppositely-disposed fins thereon, so that they will more surely enter between the guide-fingers 65;

Forwardly of the in-severing device relatively to the direction of travel of the carrier I prefer to place a body-guide 50, Fig. 5, which comprises oppositely disposed forwardly-converging vertical pressure-plates 51, suitably hinged at their rear edges to oppositely-disposed brackets 52, conveniently are disposed with their forward ends close to the outer ends of the guide-fingers 65 and in alinement with the center of the rim of the carrier and are yieldingly pressed to swing toward each other at the free ends by an interposed spring 53, connected at the ends with the pressure-plates. This guide is adapted to insure perfect alinementof the abdomi: nal part of the fish-body with the fin-severing device and acts to prevent lateral sagging of this portion of the body when placed under the downward pressure of the cutter-head.

Rear wardly of the fin-severing device is arranged an operative body-splitting instrument 97, Figs. 1 and 5, which is mounted on a vertically-movable hanger 73 of substantially the same construction as hanger 73 and consisting nected to the free ends of an upper and a lower pair of horizontally-disposed arms 74, which are rendered somewhat longer than the arms 7 4 and are arranged outside of same, so as to clear the hanger 73, and are pivotally mounted on the shafts 75. This hanger, with the splitter attached, is also counterbalanced by means of a flexible line 79, sheaves 80, and a weight 81, so that it will normally yieldingly bear downwardly at but a comparatively light pressure and the splitter be thereby allowed to rise and fall in conformity with the size and contour of the body of the fish and caused to press lightly thereupon and serve to slightly depress the same for a more perfect action of the splitting-blade of the instrument, as will be made clear in the description following. As now considered thesplitting instrument comprises a vertically-disposed circular blade 98, formed with suitable teeth on the periphery and fixedly mounted on a horizontally-disposed spindle 99, conveniently rotatably mounted parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier 10in journal-apertures formed in the ends of the stems of an inverted-U-shaped head, as 100, with the blade 98 disposed between said stems and in alinement with the center of the periphery of said carrier. Upon this head is mounted a forwardly-extending shoe, as 101, adapted to ride the fish-body as presented to the splitter, and thereby prevent the cutting instrument from entering too deeply into the body. This shoe is preferably formed of a section of plate metal, which is bent adjacent i one end to form a rounded toe 102, with a supported from the brackets 76. These plates of a vertically-disposed bar 77, pivotally conrearwardly-extending foot part which is suitably slotted to receive the forward edge of the blade 98 and is suitably secured to the cured to the sideedges of the foot part of the shoe, and to the rear edges of these brackets are secured forwardly-extending oppositely-disposed guards 1041, each of which consists of a spring-leaf formed of resilient plate metal bent outwardly at a slight curve at the forward end: These guards are arranged at suitable separation to receive the tail portion of the fish-body between their forward ends and are suitably yieldingly urged inwardly by the resiliency of the metal of which they are composed to press upon the fish-body as it is passed theretlirough, and thereby hold the upper portion of the body tense for a better operation of the cutting instrument. The head 100 of this splitter is fixed tothe bar of hanger 73, and the blade 98 is driven by a telescoping shaft 88, and a pair of bevel-gears 105, mounted on one end of spindle 99 and on the adjacent end of shaft 88, and this shaft is suitably supported at this end from the spindle by means of an angle-box 95 of identical construction to box 95, Fig. 13. The telescoping shaft 88 is identical in construction to shaft 88 and is likewise operativcly and pivotally connected to driving-shaft 91 by means of an angle-box 95 and a pair of bevel or miter gears 94, so that the splitter may be raised or lowered without interfering with the operation of the cutting-blade.

Just beyond the splitter 97 a suitable bodyspreading and entrail-removing device 106 is suitably mounted on a vertically-movable hanger 73", arranged and counterbalanced in a manner identical to the hanger for the linningv and splitting instrument and consisting of a bar 77, pivotallyconnected to arms 74", which are pivotally supported on rearward lydisposed shafts or rods 75, and this hanger is yieldingly supported for vertical movement by afiexible line 79, sheaves 80, and weight 81, as heretofore described for the hanger on which the cutter 58 is mounted. This device 106 includes an inverted-U-shaped head 107, which is secured in any suitable manner to the lower end of bar 77" of the hanger andis formed with a transverselydisposed shelf 108, between the stems thereof,

' and a rearwardly-extending foot 109 at the free end of each of said stems, Figs. 14 and 15, and to the rear end of these feet are secured ODIJOSliZOly-LliSDOSGCl forwardly-extending guides 109', which consist of sections of resilient plate metal, arranged at suitable separation to receive the tail portion of the fisl body therebetween at the forward ends, which are bent outward to better receive said body. These plates diverge rearwardlyand are secured to said feet 109 by their rear ends, so Y that they will be free to yield outwardly at the forward ends as the body is passed therebetween. Between these guards is positioned a body-spreaderconsisting of oppositely-disposed rearwardly diverging plates, as 110, which are each pivotally suspended from shelf 108 by means of a vertically-disposed pin, as 111, which is fixed to the upper end of the plate adjacent the forward end and rotatably seated in a suitable aperture in said shelf, and a collar 112 is fixedly mounted on said pin on each side of the shelf to hold the plate from displacement. These plates 110 are suitably yieldingly held together at the forward ends by means of a spring 113, which is connected to laterally-projecting arms 114, secured to said pivot-pins, so as to normally yieldingly hold said plates in contact with each other at their forward or body-entering edges. Each of these plates is preferably formed with an inwardly-curving shoe or flange 115 along the lower edge, which shoes are adapted to ride the inner surface of the back portion of the fish, and these plates are also well rounded at the upper forward corners. Between these plates 110 and rearwardly of the forward edges thereof are placed downwardly-projecting body-entering prongs or forks 116, which are composed of resilient material and are suitably secured in position by fastening the upper ends to shelf 108. These prongs are rendered of suitable length to extend slightly below the lower edge of the spreading-plates, so that the lower ends thereof will serve to break the membrane covering the line of pigment which is deposited along the vertebral column of the fish, and they are bowed or curved slightly forward to better present these ends for the work to be accomplished. This body-spreading and entrail-removing device is suitably disposed to cause the forward ends of the spreading-plates 110 to enter the cut in the body of the fish made by the splitting-blade 98, and thereby cause the body to separate alongthis line. and when the body has been advanced upon the spreader the pressure of the sides of the body upon the outer surface of the rear portions of the spreading-blades will serve 'to swing said ends in'-' wardly toward each other, as permitted by the pivoted mounting of the blades, and cause the forward ends of these plates to separate, and thereby throw apart the sides of the body of the lish, which action serves to loosen the entrails from the wall of the body, and thereby facilitate the removal thereof by the prongs or forks 116. V

Positioned rearwardly of the entrail-removing device is a body-entering Wiper-117, which includes an operatively-mounted endless link belt, as 118, tothe links of which are secured outwardly-projecting brushes 119 of any suitable construction. This belt is mounted on suitable separated sprocket-wheels 119, one of which is fixedly mounted on a suitable shaft 120, journaled in a bracket 121 and connected with a suitably-supported driving-sh aft 122 by means of sprocket-wheels 123 and a link belt 124. At each side of the belt 118 is placed a fender-plate, as 125, which is pivotally supported on shaft 120 and hangs downwardly therefrom at the rear of carrier 10. These fender-plates are suitably connected to form a rigid structure by suitable distance-bolts or the like placed therebetween, and at the lower end of these plates a shaft 126 is suitably supported in journal-apertures formed transversely said plates, and upon the shaft the other sprocket-wheel 119 is mounted to carry the belt 118. These fender-plates are adapted to prevent the link belt 118 from contacting the inner side walls of the fish and to hold the sides of the body open for a more perfect action of the brushes 119 along the vertebral column, and the upper ends of these plates extend to' the rear ends of the spreading-plates, so as to enter the body of the fish as it leaves the spreader. This wiper is operated in a suitable direction to cause the inner or active run of the belt 118 to travel upwardly, and it is left free to swing inwardly, and thereby press the brushes upon their work, but is held from swinging against the carrier 'by a suitable stop or the like. (Not shown.)

Beneath the carrier a bod y-entering scraper 127 is disposed in a suitable tank or trough, as 128, adapted to contain washing-water, and this tank is suitably positioned to embrace the lower portion of carrier 10, so that the fishbodies will be passed through the tank and along the scraper as they pass beneath the carrier. This scraper comprisesa series of upwardly-projecting loosely-supported loops, as 128 and 129, which are arranged alternately relatively to each other and approximately concentric with each other and are preferably composed of resilient wire. As now considered the loops 128 are formed helical and embodied as the convolutions of an open cylindrical coil of wire of consider able length, and the loops 129 are preferably formed octagonal and are also embodied as the convolutions of an open coil of resilient wire, which coil is suitably formed by loosely bending the wire spirally about an octagonal mandrel of somewhat less diameter than it is de sired the interior diameter of the loops should be, so that the coil thus formed will expand diametrically when removed from the mandrel, and thus conveniently cause the corners in one convolution to lie staggering relatively to those in adjacent convolutions, and thereby insure a more general action of these corners upon the surface of the fish-body. These coils of wire are placed together so that they resemble a double screw-thread and are disposed along the apex of a suitable base 130 in from the carrier.

line with the periphery of carrier 10 and suitably separated therefrom to allow the back portion of the opened fish-body to pass.

1n the present embodiment the base or support 130 comprises a vertically-disposed plate having the upper edge curved to conform to the line of sweep of the fish-body and the upper side surfaces converged to form a sharp ridge along this edge. Along this ridge, adjacent the apex thereof, are formed transversely-disposed apertures 140, Fig. 3, slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the wire of which the scraper is formed and spaced in conformity with the pitch of the convolutions of the double coil composing the scraper, and this coil is suitably attached to the base by threading same through these apertures. Along the line of the scraper a suitable spraying device is provided and arranged to discharge upwardly between the loops of the scraper within their outer or active surfaces, so that the water discharged will enter the body of the fish and strike upon the surface acted upon by the scraper, and thereby serve v to rinse the inside of the body and carry away the matter scraped from the body by the scraper. This raising device includes oppositely-disposed tubes, as 131, which are suitably supported along the upper edge of the base 130 just beneath the scraper and are provided with orifices 132, arranged in the upper sides of the walls at suitable points to direct the water for discharge upwardly and inwardly relatively to the scraper. One end of these spray-tubes is suitably sealed or closed, and

the opposite ends are connected, by means of suitable conduits, with a pump 133, Fig. 4, or the like, adapted to supply water to the tubes under considerable pressure.

Just beneath the feedway 54 is placed a pivotally-mounted chute, as 134, which is ar rangedin'the form of a trap and is adapted to receive the fish-bodies as they are released This chute or trap is inclined upwardly and inwardly relatively to the carrier and disposed with the upper end in the path of movement or sweep of the fishbodies and suitably pivotally mounted at the lower end on a pivot, as 135, supported on vertically-disposed stands 136, and is held from swinging against the carrier by means of a suit-able stop, as 137.

In the present instance the cam-tracks 42' are extended beneath "the carrier and rearwardly to a suitable point adjacent the head end of the scraper to cause the body-clamps 4:7 to open as the fish-body passes beneath the carrier, and thereby release the body so that it is free to swing outwardly as permitted by the rotatable jaws 29 of the tail-grips, and thereby allow the body to swing to and embrace the scraper as the abdominal walls hang apart, and as the carrier advances the body will rest upon the scraper and by its own weight exert suflicient pressure thereupon to cause the scraper to remove the remaining pigment and membrane as the body is dragged therealong. The cam-tracks 42 are extended rearwardly a suitable distance to cause the jaws 29 to open just after the dressed body has passed above the trap 134, when the bod-y will be received thereby as it falls from these jaws and be delivered clear of the machine.

It will of course be understood that a plurality of body gripping and clamping devices can be arranged on the carrier about the pe riphery without departing from the spirit of this invention, and thereby greatly increase the capacity of the machine; but for the sake of clearness and simplicity of description I have shown but one of each. Furthermore, it will be understood that suitable stops are arranged to regulate the approach of the several movable instruments relative to the carrier, so that they will not come into contact therewith.

An operation of this machine to dress a fish-body which has had the head and caudal fin removed would occur substantially as follows: The body is placed on its back in the feedway 54 with the tail end pointing toward the carrier. It is then passed forward, causing the dorsal fin to pass between the blades 53 and the tail end to enter the clamp 57. As the grips 24 reach the protruding tail end of the body they close thereupon, and as these grips pass upwardly the body swings to its seat onthe carrier and the body-clamps close thereupon. When the body is passed between the pressure-plates of theguide 50, they'press upon opposite sides thereof and serve to hold the abdominal portion in alinement with the fin-severing cutter 59, which rides over the body, as heretofore described, and removes the anal, ventral, and pectoral fins. As the body advances upon the splitter 97 the shoe thereon rides upon the body and prevents the blade 98 from entering too deeply, while the guard-plates 104 press upon the sides of the body and hold it firm for more perfect action of the splitting-blade.

The split body then passes onward to the spreading and entrail-removing device 106, which receives the body between the guards 109, which yieldingly press upon opposite sides of the abdominal portion of the body as the spreading-plates 110 enter the cut made by the splitter-and serve to open the body widely along this cut for the more perfect action of the prongs 116 to break the superimposed membrane along the backbone and to crowd out the entrails as the shoes 115 ride on the inner bottom surface of the back of the fish, and thereby prevent gouging of the prongs. From this device the body passes to the wiper, the fender-plates of which serve to hold the sides apart as the brushes act to remove the blood and pigment, andas the body clears this wiper and passes beneath the carrier with the sides hanging apart the body clamps 147 are opened and the body swings to the scraper and is dragged therealong and carried upwardly at the forward side of the carrier until it clears the trap 134, when the tail-grips 24 are opened and the dressed body falls clear of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. In a machine of the nature indicated; a

vertically-disposed rotatable carrier, a horizontally-disposed feedway at the upwardlymoving face of said carrier, body-embracing spring'leaves at the delivery end of said way, a body-seat on the rim of said carrier, jaws mounted on said carrier at said seat for both gripping and rotative action, and means to open and close said jaws by and during movement of said carrier.

' 2. Inamachineof the natureindicated; arotatable carrier, gripping members operatively mounted thereon, a radially-disposed stem slidably mounted on said carrier and operatively connected with said members, a spring arranged to yieldingly force said stem inwardly, levers pivotally mounted on the carrier and embracing said stem, bearing-blocks on the stem over said levers, cam-rollers mounted at the end of said levers, and camtracks in the line of sweep of said rollers.

3. In amachine of the nature indicated; arotatable carrier, jaw-supports pivotallymounted on said carrier, and having laterally-projecting lugs, a radially-disposed stem slidably mounted on said carrier, links connected with said stem and with the lugs on said supports, a spring arranged to yieldingly press said stem inwardly, levers pivotally mounted on the carrier and embracing said stem, bearingrollers rotatably mounted on said stem above said levers, cam-rollers mounted at the ends of said levers,and stationary cam-tracks arranged in the line of sweep of said cam-rollers.

4. In a machine of the nature indicated; the combination of a frame, a vertically-disposed rotatable body-carrier mounted thereon, and a body entering scraper mounted beneath said carrier comprising a vertically-disposed base-plate having the upper edge curved to conform to the sweep of the body on said carrier, and upwardly-projecting Wire loops arranged along the curved edge of said plate.

5. In a machine of the nature indicated; the combination of a frame, a vertically-disposed, rotatable carrier mounted thereon, body-gripping members operatively mounted on said carrier, a body-splitting device, and a bodyentering scraper beneath said carrier comprising a vertically-disposed base-plate having the upper edge curved to conform to the line of sweep of the body on the carrier, and upwardly projecting wire loops arranged along said curved edge.

6. In a machine of the nature indicated; the

combination of a frame, a vertically-disposed,

rotatable carrier mounted thereon, bod y-gripping members operatively mounted on said carrier, a body-splitting device, a body-entering scraper beneath said carrier comprising a support, and a series of upwardly-projecting wire loops arranged on said support, and oppositely-disposed spray-tubes on said support having orifices arranged to direct discharge between said loops.

7. In a machine of the nature indicated; the combination of a frame, a vertically-disposed, rotatable carrier mounted thereon, jaw-supports operatively mounted on said carrier, gripping-jaws rotatably mounted on said supports, a body-seat rearwardly of said jaws, bod y-clamps operatively mounted on said carrier at opposite sides of said seat, a bodysplitting device, a body-entering scraper be-v neath said carrier, and means to operate said body-clamps to allow the body to swing from said seat as it approaches said scraper.

8. In a machine of the nature indicated, the combination of a frame, and a carrier movably. mounted thereon, with ahanger comprising an i upper and a lower pair of horizontal arms,' pivoted to a fixed part, and a vertical bar piv-; oted to the arms, a body-dressing instrumentl mounted on the bar, and means to counter-i balance the hanger.

9.- In a machine of the nature indicated, the combination of a frame, and acarrier movably? mounted thereon,witha body-splitting device, a body-spreader beyond said splitting device.

and comprising a movably-mounted head;

yieldingly bearing toward said carrier, oppo-j sitely-disposed rearwardly-diverging springpressed plates pivotally mounted on said head, and outwardly-yielding guides mounted onf said head at the outer side of saidqplates, said splitting device and said body-spreader being arranged to act upon a body carried by the carrier, and being immovable therewith, and body-scraping prongs mounted between said plates.

10. In a machine of the nature indicated, the; combination of a frame, and a carrier movably mounted thereon, a body-splitting device with a body-spreading device supported to act u pon;

a body carried by the carrier, said spreading: device comprising a movably-mounted head yieldingly bearing toward said carrier, oppositely-disposed rearwardly -dive.rging plates pivotally mounted adjacent their forward ends on said head, means to yieldingly press said plates together at said ends, inwardly-projecting shoes on the lower edge of said plates, and forwardly-extending spring-guides at the outer sides of said plates.

'11. In a machine of the nature indicated, the combination of a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, with means supported to splita body carried by the carrier and remove the entrails therefrom, and a body-entering wiper beyond said means comprising a rotatably-mounted shaft, oppositely-disposed fender-plates pivotally mounted on said shaft, a wheel secured on the shaft between said plates, a second wheel rotatably mounted between said plates at the free ends, a belt passing about said wheels, outwardly-projecting brushes secured to said belt, and means whereby said shaft is supported.

12. In a machine of the nature indicated, the combination of a frame and a rotatably-mount ed carrier supported thereby, with means supported so as to be immovable with the carrier to split a body carried by the carrier and re move the entrails therefrom, a shaft rotatabl y supported beyond said means at the rear of the carrier and parallel with the axis thereof, downwardly-extending body-entering fenderplates pivotally mounted concentric with said shaft and yieldingly pressing toward said carrier, a wheel secured on said shaft between said plates, a second wheel rotatably mounted between said plates at the free ends, a belt passing about said wheels, outwardly-projecting body-wiping brushes secured to said belt, and means to spread apart the walls of said body as it approaches said plates. I

13. In a machine of the nature indicated; a cutter comprising a pair of conical frustum rims rotatably fitting one within the other and having teeth on contiguous edges, and

center webs attached to said rims, spindles secured to said webs, and means to rotatably support said spindles.

14. In a machine of the natureindicated; the combination of a frame and a body-carrier movably mounted thereon, with a cutter-head immovable with said body-carrier, means to press the cutter-head yieldingly toward the carrier, a pair of circular tin-severing blades operatively mounted on said head concentric with each other for independent rotary action, means to drive said blades in opposite directions relatively to each other, forweirdly-extending fin-guiding fingers pivotally mounted on said head over said blades, and springs pressing inwardly upon said fingers forwardly of their pivots.

15. In a machine of the nature indicated; the combination of a frame, and a body-carrier movably mounted thereon, with a hanger immovable with the. carrier, means to press the hanger yieldingly toward the carrier, a

cutter-head movably mounted on said hanger for angular adjustment, a pair of blades formed with conical frustum. tooth-bearing rims and mounted on said head concentric with each other for independent rotary action, and'means to rotate said blades.

16. In a machine of the nature indicated; the combination of a frame and a body-carrier movably mounted thereon, with a movablymounted support, said support being held against movement with said carrier, a cutterhead mounted on said support, a cutter com prising a pair of circular blades, a tubular spindle secured toone blade, and a second spindle fitting within and projecting beyond said tube and secured to the other. blade, oppositely-disposed bevel-gears one of which is secured to the projecting spindle and the other secured to the adjacent end of the tu-' bular spindle, means to rotatably support .said spindles on said head, a shaft rotatably -'mounted in said head at right angles to the spindles, a bevel-gear secured on said shaft in mesh with the gears on said splndles, a

second beveled gear secured on said shaft, a

on the carrier, a radially-disposed springpressed stem on said carrier and being operatively connected to said jaws for opening and. closing the same, means pivoted on the carrier for reciprocating said stem, and stationary means on both sides of said carrier adapted to be engaged by said first-named means for reciprocating the same.

18. In afish-dressing machine, the combination of aframe and a revoluble carrier mounted-thereon, jaws arranged on the carrier, ra-

dially-disposed stems, links connecting said jaws and stems, bearing-rollers on said stems, i levers pivoted to said carrier and adapted to engage said bearing-rollers, cams arranged in- -the path of travel of said levers and being immovable with the carrier, and rollers on the ends of said leversadapted to engage said cams.

19. Ina fish-dressing machine, a carrier, rotatable ta1lgripping 'means arranged thereon, body-gripping jaws on said carrier, a seat on said carrier between said bodygripping jaws, and means for actuating said tail and body gripping jaws.

'20. In a fish-dressing machine, a carrier,

tail-gripping means arranged thereon, rotatable jaws on said means, a body-gripping means on said carrier, spring-pressed means 'for actuating said jaws, and means for actuating said body-gripping means.

21. In a fish-d ressing machine, the combination of a frame, and a revoluble carrier mounted thereon, a feedway arranged adjacent to and being immovable with the carr1er,rotatable tail-gripping means mounted on said carrier, means on said feedway for resisting the movement of the body to be dressed, bodygripping means on said carrier, means for normally holding said tail and said bodygripping means in a closed position, means for opening saidmeans to release said body being dressed, and a chute mounted adjacent the carrier for the reception of said body after its release.

22. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination with a frame and abody-carrier movably mounted thereon, fish-gripping means.mounted on the carrier, and a scraper arranged in the path of travel of said gripping means and being immovable therewith, said scraper comprising a series of wire loops.

23. In a fish-dressing machine, the combina- .tion with a frame and a revoluble carrier and fish-gripping means thereon, of a scraper arranged to operate on said fish and being im- -movable with the carrier, said scraper comprising a plurality of open coils of wire, some of said coils being polygonal.

24:. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination with a frame and a carrier and means for securing a body to be dressed thereon, of a scraper arranged to operate on said body and being immovable with the carrier, said scraper comprising an open coil of resilient material,

and a second coil also formed of resilient material havingpolygonal convolutions and arranged between the convolutions of the firstnamed coil.

25. In a fish-d ressing machine, the combination with a frame and a rotatable body-carrier mounted thereon, a scraper arranged to operate on a body carried by said carrier and comprising a support, a series of wire loops arranged on said support, and a spray-tube having orifices arranged to discharge between said loops, said support being immovable with the carrier.

26. In a fish-dressing machine, the combina tion of a frame and a carrier movable thereon, a body-seat mounted on said carrier and being formed of yielding material, and a bodysplitting device, a body-spreading device and a body-entering scraper, arranged in the path of the travel of the carrier and being operably related thereto to act upon a body arranged in said seat, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

27. In a fish-d ressing machine, the combination of a frame and a carrier movable thereon, a body-splitting device and a body-entering cleaning device arranged adjacent thereto, and being immovable with the carrier, and

a yielding body-spreader arranged intermedi-- ate said splitting device and said cleaning device, said spreader comprising a pair of outer plates and a pair of inner pivoted plates.

28. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination of a frame and a carrier rotatably mounted thereon, a body-splitting device arranged to act on a body carried by said carrier, said device comprising a vertically-movable support, a blade mounted therein, and a rotatablymounted telescoping shaft for rotating said blade.

29. In afish-dressing machine, the combination with a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, of a hanger comprising arms pivoted to ,the frame, a bar pivotally connected to the free ends of thearms, a body-dressing instrument mounted on the bar, and a telescoping shaft pivotally connected to said hanger for actuating the said dressing instrument.

3(). In a fish-dressing machine, in combination, a movable body-carrier. a body-splitting device and a head arranged in the path of travel of said body carrier, rearwardly diverging body-spreading plates pivotally mounted adjacent their forward ends on said head, and means to yieldingly force said plates to contact each other at said ends.

31. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination of carrier with a fin-cutting device in the path of travel thereof, said device comprising a plurality of conical frustum cutterblades, one of which is fitted within the other and arranged to oppositely rotate therein.

32. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination of a carrier with afinecutting device arranged in the path of travel thereof, said cutter consisting of a pair of blades each formed with a central web, and a conical frustum rim on the edge of the web, the rim of one blade rotatably fitting within the rim of the other blade, teeth on said blades, means to support said blades, and means to rotate said blades in opposite directions.

33. In a fish-d ressing machine, the combination of a carrier with a plurality of cutters in the path of travel thereof, and comprising webs, spindles secured thereto, means to support said spindles and telescoping means to rotate said spindles in opposite directions.

34. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination with a carrier, of a cutting device secured in the path of the carrier and comprising a yoke, a pair of blades having conical frustum cutting edges, spindles for said blades, one of said spindles having its bearing on the lower fork of said yoke, and the other spindle having its bearing in said first-named spindle and in the upper fork of said yoke, and guides secured to said cutting device parallel with said blades and at an angle to the cutting edges.

35. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination with a carrier, of a cutter head yieldingly co'acting with said carrier, a blade formed with a conical frustum tooth-bearing rim and rotatably mounted on said head, extensible means pivotally connected with said head to rotate said blade and means for angularly adjusting said cutter-head with relation to said extensible means.

36. In a fish-dressing machine, a carrier comprising a hub, radially-disposed spokes adjacent the carrier, and means operatively' connected to the stems for engagement with the cams whereby the jaws are operated.

37. In amachineof the character described, the combination of a frame, and a carrier movably mounted thereon, with a spreader supported on a fixed partand being arranged in the path of the carrier and comprisingtwo pivot-ed plates, and an entrail-removing device mounted between said plates.

38. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, with a body-spreader mounted in the path of travel of the carrier and being immovable therewith and comprising a forked member, guides secured to said spreader, plates arranged between said guides and being pivotally connected to said forked member, and entrail-removing forks secured between said plates and in said forked member.

39. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, with a body-spreader mounted in the path of the carrier and being immovable therewith and comprising two pivotally-mounted plates, and depending entrailremoving forks arranged therebetween.

40. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a carrier, of a bodyscraper comprising a bifurcated head, a transverse shelf secured to the furcations thereof, plates, pivot-pins secured to said plates and to said shelf, arms on said pivot-pins, and aspring connecting said arms.

41. In afish-dressing machine, the combination with a carrier, of a spreader comprising a bifurcated head, a shelf secured to the furcations thereof, plates pivotally mounted in said shelf, a spring for normally holding the forward ends of said plates together and forwardly-extending entrail-removing forks secured to said shelf intermediate said plates.

42. In combination with aguideway, a carrier movable at an angle thereto, rotatable tail-gripping means mounted on said carrier, gripping means mounted on the guideway c0- acting with said first-named gripping means, and means for actuating said tail-gripping means.

43. In a fish-dressing machine, the combination of a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, means mounted on the carrier for holding a body, with a cutter secured to afixed part having a heel arranged in the path of travel of a body mounted in said means and a cutting edge arranged above and in advance of said heel.

44. In a fish-d ressing machine, the combination of a frame and a carrier movably mounted thereon, means mounted on the carrier for lioldinga body, a cutter secured to a fixed part and having a Web portion inclined forwardly toward the carrier, and an outwardly-inclined knife secured at one edge to the edge of said Web, thereby forming a heel, said heel extending across the path of said carrier.

4C5. In a machine for dressing fish, a revoluble carrier, means for supporting the same, body and tail gripping means mounted on the carrier, a scraper secured to a fixed part and mounted in the path of the carrier, and means for releasing the fish-body from the bodygripping means only when approaching the scraper.

46. In a fish-dressing machine, a movable carrier, means for supporting the same, bodygripping means mounted on the carrier, said means comprising side clamps and a seat formed of resilient material arranged therebetween.

47. In a fish-dressing machine, a cutterhead, fin-cutting blades rotatably mounted on said head, and forwardly-diverging fingers adjustably mounted on said head, and means pressing said fingers toward each other.

48. In a machine for dressing fish, a movable carrier, means for supporting the same,

50. Ina machine for dressing fish, a mov- I able carrier, means for supporting the same, tWo gripping means mounted on the carrier for gripping a fish, one of said gripping means being rotatable, and means for independently operating said gripping means.

Signed at Seattle, \Vashington, this 30th day of March, 1903.

EDMUND AUGUSTINE SMITH. Witnesses: ARTHUR A. ANSORGE, BENJAMIN R. BRIERLY. 

